Ring of Fire Eclipse
Photo Workshop
Chaco Culture Nat’l Historical Monument
Farmington, New Mexico
October 11 - 15, 2023
Sold Out; Join Waitlist Below
Five Day / Four Night Workshop
$1,995
8 Participants Max
Workshop Highlights
Experience the stunning October 14, 2023, annular solar eclipse, also known as the “Ring of Fire,” from the ancient grounds of Chaco Culture National Historical Monument.
Immerse yourself in the rugged, other-worldly, high desert environment of north-central New Mexico as you prepare and practice for the eclipse. Visit the Bisti Badlands for an unforgettable night of back-country astrophotography and experience a stunning sunrise at Shiprock mountain. This workshop occurs during the days preceding October’s new moon for the darkest night skies possible.
You will also spend several days preparing for the eclipse in a comfortable, private executive meeting room. Learn about the astronomy of eclipses and the many ways to photograph them. Possible Ring of Fire eclipse projects include wide-angle shots, telephoto images, tracked/untracked time-lapse projects, multi-image sequence composites, and more. Finally, develop and practice a detailed plan for eclipse day, so nothing is left to chance!
Dr. Mike Shaw will be your workshop instructor and guide. He is the author of the new book, “The Beginner’s Guide to Astrophotography, (2023)” and, “The Complete Guide to Landscape Astrophotography,” and “Creative Nightscapes and Time-Lapses.” He is also the co-creator of the video tutorials embedded in the Planit Pro app. He is the author of the recently launched Night Photography articles in the Adobe Lightroom Academy.
Workshop highlights include:
Experience and photograph the October 14, 2023, annular solar eclipse from the legendary grounds of Chaco Culture National Historical Monument
Hike to the Cracked Eggs in the surreal Bisti Badlands for a night of dark-sky astrophotography
Experience the epic sunrise at Shiprock Mountain
Learn solar eclipse astronomy and photography, night photography, time-lapse methods, photo planning, image editing techniques, and much more during five days of classroom-style sessions in our comfortable, private meeting room
Acquire practical tips and knowledge to keep you and your camera safe, warm, and functioning
NOTE - This workshop involves 2 - 3 days of hiking distances up to 3 miles along mostly flat terrain at elevations of around 6000'. If you have any questions about your fitness level, don't hesitate to contact us immediately.
SAFETY FIRST
NEVER LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN. YOU MAY SUFFER IMMEDIATE & PERMANENT VISION DAMAGE / BLINDNESS IF YOU DIRECTLY VIEW THE SUN WITHOUT PROPER PROTECTION…DON’T RISK IT!
NEVER VIEW THE SUN THROUGH THE VIEWFINDER OF YOUR CAMERA - EVEN WITH A CERTIFIED SOLAR FILTER IN PLACE. Prior to the workshop, you will need to purchase and bring (i) a certified solar filter that fits the lens(es) you wish (EXAMPLE) and (ii) certified solar eclipse glasses.
YOU MUST HAVE A CERTIFIED SOLAR FILTER FOR YOUR CAMERA IN ORDER TO PHOTOGRAPH THE SUN AND ANNULAR ECLIPSE.
Workshop Structure & Itinerary
Daytime Class Sessions, and Day/Night Photography Field Sessions:
This workshop has two components: (i) Daytime classroom sessions in our private meeting room and (ii) both day and night photography sessions in the field. The classroom sessions involve presentations and hands-on practice. The field sessions are where you apply your knowledge to photograph the eclipse and other beautiful scenic subjects.
OPTIONAL MEET & GREET
Tuesday, October 10, 7 - 8 pm. Optional Meet & Greet meeting in the lobby of the Fairfield Inn & Suites, Farmington, New Mexico. Meet your workshop colleagues and share your goals for the workshop.
DAY / NIGHT ONE:
Wednesday, October 11, 9 am - 5 pm with a lunch break between noon - 2 pm The workshop begins at 9:00 am in our private meeting room at the Fairfield Inn & Suites (See map below). Mike will give a workshop overview and schedule. We will start by learning the fundamentals of annular solar eclipses and the necessary safety precautions. Next, you will learn the main options for photographing the annular eclipse and prepare your initial plan for Saturday’s event.
You will also assemble your camera, tripod, and solar filter and practice photographing the sun outdoors with the solar filter in place. Today, and throughout the workshop, you will have ample time to have all your questions answered in a friendly, supportive environment.
You should arrive in your own vehicle for transportation throughout the workshop or carpool with a friend. Be sure to have on-hand warm clothes in layers, warm boots or shoes, a warm hat and gloves, and hand warmers (will be provided if needed).
We will retire early after dinner in preparation for tomorrow’s sunrise photoshoot.
DAY / NIGHT TWO:
Thursday, October 12, 4:30 am - 9 am Shiprock Mountain Sunrise. We will meet & depart the Fairfield Inn at 4:30 am (in your own vehicle, or carpool with a friend) and drive in a convoy to a selected vantage point near Shiprock Mountain. There, we will assemble our cameras & tripods and eagerly await the sunrise. It never disappoints! We will leave Shiprock at 8 am and return to the Fairfield Inn around 9 am for a quick breakfast before returning to our meeting room at 10 am.
Thursday, October 12, 10 am - noon You will spend this time at the Fairfield Inn practicing solar photography with your solar filter in place, since the sun will be in the same position as during the annular eclipse. We will also spend time refining your eclipse photography plan based on your new experiences.
Thursday, October 12, 3 pm - 1 am Meet & drive in a convoy to the Bisti Badlands for a wonderful night of night photography. NOTE - This excursion involves a hike of around 3 miles round trip at night over mostly flat terrain at an elevation of around 6000’, but with no trail or toilets. You should be in good condition to undertake this hike, and be able to carry at least a quart of water and snacks. If you have any hesitation, then you are welcome choose an alternate activity on your own - just ask. We will return to the Fairfield Inn between midnight - 1am.
DAY / NIGHT THREE:
Friday, October 13, 6 am - 5 pm Visit Chaco Culture National Historical Monument - Bring bag lunch, snacks & water. Meet & depart the Fairfield Inn at 6 am (in your own vehicle, or carpool with a friend) and drive in a convoy to Chaco Culture National Historical Monument. There is a standard US National Park Service entrance fee; if you have any type of US National Park Service pass, be sure to bring it.
We will explore the grounds on foot and decide where we will return on Saturday to set up for the eclipse. Today involves walking outdoors during most of the day, so be sure to bring your hat, comfortable shoes, water, sunglasses, snacks, and a hiking stick, if desired.
Between 10 am - 11 am (approximately) we will again set up our cameras, solar filters and tripods, and practice our solar photography of the sun in its eclipse position. Practice makes perfect!
We will depart Culture National Historical Monument by 3 pm to return to the Fairfield Inn by around 5 pm for dinner.
Friday, October 13, 7 pm - 9 pm
We will meet in our private meeting room at the Fairfield Inn for last minute preparations for tomorrow’s annular, ring-of-fire solar eclipse! We will confirm your lens choice(s), camera settings, solar filter status, and anything else you want to check.
DAY / NIGHT FOUR:
Saturday, October 14, 5 am - 3 pm Photograph the 2023 Ring of Fire Annular Eclipse at Chaco Culture National Historical Monument - Bring bag lunch, snacks & water.
Meet & depart the Fairfield Inn at 5 am (in your own vehicle, or carpool with a friend) and drive in a convoy to Chaco Culture National Historical Monument. We will drive to the park, hike to our chosen spot(s), set up our gear and enjoy a wonderful morning of annular solar eclipse photography. After capturing all the photographs of the maximum annular eclipse that we can manage between 10:31 - 10:36 am, we will keep photographing through the end of the partial phases until approximately 12:30 pm. We will then pack up & depart by 1:30 pm to arrive at the Fairfield Inn by 3 pm.
Saturday, October 14, 7 pm - 10 pm
We’ll meet in our private meeting room at the Fairfield Inn to review the eclipse experience and begin post-processing our images and image projects.
DAY FIVE:
Sunday, October 15, 9 am - 5 pm with a lunch break between noon - 2 pm
We complete our photo processing projects from the workshop in our private meeting room and tie up any remaining loose ends regarding techniques. Hard to believe the past five days have passed so quickly!
5:00 pm - Workshop concludes. We pile in our vehicles, head home and sleep!
Learning Environment:
Mike Shaw Photography workshops are known for their in-depth explanations of essential and highly advanced topics in a friendly, supportive environment. If this is your first workshop, you will likely be pleasantly surprised by the collaborative atmosphere. These are not competitive, goal-driven events; instead, you will have ample opportunity to explore whatever topic(s) you are most interested in, surrounded by enthusiastic, like-minded individuals. The small group size and Mike’s deep knowledge and extensive teaching experience ensure a genuinely unparalleled learning experience with lots of personal attention. Most workshops feature roughly 50% past attendees - for a good reason!
Key Moments
Sunset: 6:37 pm
Dark night: 8:00 pm - 5:45 am
Sunrise: 7:19 am
Partial eclipse begins 9:11 am on Saturday, October 14
Full eclipse begins 10:31 am
Maximum eclipse 10:33 am
Full eclipse ends 10:36 am
Partial eclipse ends 12:04 pm
Workshop Accommodations & Venue
Our workshop is based at the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Farmington, New Mexico (see map):
2850 East Main Street | Farmington, New Mexico 87402
Phone: (505) 324-0777 | Fax: (505) 324-0776
For your convenience, we have arranged for a block of rooms at the Fairfield Inn & Suites at a special rate of $109 per night. Click below to access this rate; rate expires 9/19/2023:
Book Your Hotel Room Here
We will meet in our private meeting room at the Fairfield Inn during the day on Wednesday, October 11 - Sunday, October 15, 2023. Here, we will review and enhance your images, work on time-lapse projects and learn basic & advanced nightscape photography techniques.
Pricing
$1,995/Person
Workshop Includes:
Annular solar eclipse photography at Chaco Culture National Historical Monument, New Mexico, under a US National Park Service Commercial Use Authorization.
One night of professional night photography guiding and instruction in the Bisti Badlands. Sunrise photo session at Shiprock Mountain.
Five days and a few evenings of private, small-group classroom sessions and field excursions focused on annular eclipse astronomy and photography, night photography technique and image editing.
Mike’s original Night / Eclipse Shooting Plan template and instructions for its use
Detailed learning sessions with the Planit Pro app to precisely plan your annular solar eclipse photo projects
Options to experiment with night photography specialty accessories - filters, focusing aides, trackers, panorama heads, and more
Welcome Packet with a complete gear list and other useful information
Workshop Does Not Include:
Hotel accommodations. You can select a room at the Fairfield Inn & Suites from the block reserved for our workshop. There are also many other options nearby. Please contact us if you need assistance
Transportation to/from your home to the workshop meeting locations
Meals, beverages & snacks
Workshop Registration, Payment, and Next Steps
To Register for This Workshop:
Click the “BOOK NOW” button below to register and pay for the workshop. You will be asked to provide your name and contact details, along with the option of either a Full Payment or a 50% Deposit Payment. You will also be asked to electronically sign the standard release waiver and Covid-19 vaccine confirmation during checkout. You can review the waiver and Covid-19 vaccine confirmation HERE.
Within 24 hours, you will receive a confirmation email stating that your registration information & payment has been received, and that your spot in the workshop is secure - welcome aboard!
Next Steps:
You will receive your Welcome Packet once your Full Payment is received. The Welcome Packet has the complete workshop itinerary, venue, gear & software lists, maps, and other important details. Please review it carefully and contact us right away with any questions.
Balance Payment - Your Balance Payment is due no later than 90 days before the workshop begins if you made a Deposit Payment during your initial registration. If you initially made a Full Payment then you’re all set!
Hotel room - You should make your room reservation at the venue hotel as soon as possible. You can do some HERE. You can stay anywhere else in Farmington you choose, of course.
Airfare / rental vehicle - You will want to make these reservations at your convenience.
Practice - Now is a great time to start practicing with your camera, especially in the dark. See “Know Your Camera” in the “How to Prepare” section below.
Finally - please contact me right away with any questions. I am here to help!
Cancellation Policy
Recommended Gear
(You will receive a detailed gear list in your Welcome Packet when you register)
Solar Filter:
You will need to buy and bring along a certified solar filter for all the lenses you wish to use for solar eclipse photography. AN ND FILTER IS NOT A CERTIFIED SOLAR FILTER AND WILL EXPOSE YOU AND YOUR CAMERA TO DANGEROUS AND HARMFUL SUNLIGHT. You can find a certified solar filter for most lenses HERE.
Camera Gear - the Essentials:
DSLR or mirrorless camera with the ability to manually focus and manual set the exposure (ISO, f-stop & shutter speed)
Lens(es). An 18-55 mm kit lens works just fine. Also great are a wide-angle lens (in the 14 - 24 mm range) or a mid-range lens (in the 24 - 70 mm range)
Tripod / ballhead - the sturdier the better
Attachment plate for your camera/ballhead
Programmable cable shutter release for long (several minute) exposures. I don’t recommend “wireless” shutter release devices since they often don’t work in the field
Headlamp with a red bulb
Extra batteries
Extra memory cards
Lens/sensor cleaning kits
Camera & other operating manuals
Allen key and other tools for making adjustments
Camera/gear backpack
Camera Gear - Nice to Have:
Loupe for focusing
Tiffen Double Fog 3 lens filter
External intervalometer
Extra flashlight
Personal Gear:
Snacks
Water
Portable chair - definitely worth its weight!
Hand warmers (optional - we will have these available)
Sunscreen
Sunglasses
Insect repellent (you never know!)
Laptop for downloading & editing your images during the class sessions
Warm clothes in layers
Warm boots, hat & gloves
Warm jacket & raincoat
How to Prepare
Physical Fitness:
This workshop involves two days of 2-3 miles of hiking along mostly flat terrain, with some hills. Please let us know if you have any concerns at all in this regard.
Know Your Camera:
Knowing how to operate your camera before your workshop allows you to enjoy your time in the field creating images. Time spent practicing at home will yield major returns when you’re in the field. For example, you would be able to spend more time on your photography if you already knew how to:
Set the ISO, aperture and. shutter speed in manual mode (M)
Set your focus mode from autofocus to manual focus, and back again
Display the image histogram on the LCD screen
Display the image histogram in image review
(For DSLR cameras) Enable live view on the LCD screen
Magnify the live view shown on the LCD screen
The level of preparation needed is different for everyone, so if there is anything you’re unsure of, please just ask.
Gear:
A little time at home preparing your gear and electronics will give you peace of mind once you’re in the field and potentially away from reliable internet access.
Review the gear list in your Welcome Packet (provided when you register)
Clean your camera lenses and sensors
Charge your batteries
Download and update all the software you expect to use; again, see the Welcome Packet. You definitely don’t want to waste valuable workshop time on these tasks!
Confirm you have all the necessary charging cords needed for your electronics
Set your camera so that it will only function with a memory card installed
